Cardiacs Websites

Cardiacs Biography

Cardiacs Biography from Wikipedia

Cardiacs were formed by Tim Smith in suburban Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, in 1977.

Since then the band line-up has remained fluid, undergoing numerous line-up changes, with Tim’s brother Jim Smith being the only other surviving original member, and many previous members appearing now and again for live performances, or helping out backstage (and vice vera).

Starting off as Cardiac Arrest, then settling on Cardiacs by the end of 1980. Early releases followed the punk DIY ethic, and included limited runs of the cassette albums The Obvious Identity, Toy World, and The Seaside.

The band’s line-up was whittled down throughout 1983 from eight to six (Tim, Jim, Sarah, Bill, Dom, and Tim) the line-up that would remain for the rest of the 1980s. Tim and Sarah got married in July 1983.

In 1984, Cardiacs supported Marillion at the personal request of Marillion’s lead singer Fish.

While the tour gave Cardiacs some overdue publicity, Marillion’s fanbase took an aversion to them resulting in the band being pelted with a variety of makeshift missiles (including – but not limited to – bottles, batteries and lit cigarettes) on stage.

In March 1987 the British tabloid newspaper the Sunday Sport ran a story ‘exposing’ the supposedly incestuous relationship between Tim and Sarah, mistaking the couple for brother and sister, “In the bizarre world of music.. anything goes – even INCEST.” Much of the misunderstanding was perpetuated by Tim himself.

The release of Is This The Life in 1988 saw brief chart success and the attention of a wider audience, as the single reached the Indie top ten in the UK. By the end of 1990, the band had slimmed down to a four piece, using a backing tape for live shows.

In 1995 much of the Cardiacs back catalogue was re-released on CD.

For several years, Cardiacs have been playing a regular annual gig in London. This usually takes place towards the end of the year and is regarded as a major Cardiacs event, attended by fans of all ages (as most of the Cardiacs fans from back in the day now have children of their own) from all over the world.

The last official release of new Cardiacs material was in 1999 with the album Guns. According to the Cardiacs official website, a new album is in preparation – a track from which was included on the 2002 Greatest Hits compilation.

A two volume set of recordings from the three shows at the Highbury Garage in November 2003 was released in the beginning of September 2005, and is available from All My Eye and Betty Martin Music (along with other fine recordings from the likes of William D Drake and Spratleys Japs).